We all know that smoking, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease are serious health risks. But what if I told you that the biggest predictors of how long you’ll live—and how well you’ll live—aren’t any of those?
Let’s break down the numbers:
- Hypertension increases your risk of dying from any cause by about 20%.
- Type 2 diabetes? That’s about a 30% increase.
- Smoking is even worse—raising your risk by 50%.
But here’s where things get really interesting:
- Being weak relative to being strong increases your mortality risk by 250%.
- Having a very low VO2 max (a measure of your cardiorespiratory fitness) increases your risk by a staggering 400% when compared to those in the top 2.5% of fitness levels.
Yes, you read that right. Weakness and poor cardio fitness are far more dangerous than smoking or diabetes when it comes to your overall health and longevity.
Why This Matters
If you care about living a longer, healthier life, strength training and improving your cardio fitness aren’t optional—they’re essential. Building strength and boosting your VO2 max can have a bigger impact on your lifespan than almost any other health factor.
The good news? You don’t have to be an elite athlete to make massive improvements. Strength training 2–3 times a week and adding high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or regular cardio sessions can transform your health and your future.
At our gym, we specialize in helping high achievers and leaders build the strength and endurance they need to thrive—not just survive. Ready to take control of your health and longevity? Start training with us today. Your future self will thank you.